Differential Thermoelectric Cooler Calorimeter

Abstract

A calorimeter for use in measuring a sample is provided. The calorimeter may include a sample chamber for housing the sample therein. A separate reference chamber may not be present in the calorimeter. The calorimeter may also have a sample thermoelectric cooler in which heat from the sample chamber is transferred to the sample thermoelectric cooler. A reference thermoelectric cooler for use in detecting thermal noise may also be present, and outputs from the sample thermoelectric cooler and the reference thermoelectric cooler may be used in a control equation to determine the heat output of the sample.

1 . A calorimeter for use in measuring a sample, comprising:
 a sample chamber for housing the sample therein;   a plurality of sample thermoelectric coolers located adjacent the sample chamber, wherein heat from the sample chamber is transferred to the sample thermoelectric coolers;   a sample plate that at least partially defines a heat removal path, wherein the sample thermoelectric coolers are adjacent to one side of the sample plate; and   a plurality of reference thermoelectric coolers adjacent to the sample plate on a side of the sample plate opposite from the side to which the sample thermoelectric coolers are adjacent;   wherein outputs from the sample thermoelectric coolers and the reference thermoelectric coolers are used in measuring the sample.   
     
     
         2 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a bottom plate adjacent to the bottom of the sample chamber, wherein at least one of the sample thermoelectric coolers is adjacent to the bottom of the sample chamber and the bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate is located between one of the reference thermoelectric coolers and one of the sample thermoelectric coolers that is adjacent to the bottom of the sample chamber and the bottom plate; and   a plug adjacent to the top of the sample chamber, wherein the plug has a center plate, wherein at least one of the sample thermoelectric coolers is adjacent to the top of the sample chamber and the center plate, wherein the center plate is located between one of the reference thermoelectric coolers and one of the sample thermoelectric coolers that is adjacent to the top of the sample chamber and the center plate.   
     
     
         3 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 2 , wherein the heat removal path is defined by the sample thermoelectric coolers, the sample plate, the bottom plate, and the center plate such that heat from the sample chamber is transferred from the sample chamber through the heat removal path. 
     
     
         4 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an upper section located adjacent the sample chamber and at least partially defined by the sample plate; and   an upper section resistor heater located at the upper section, wherein the upper section resistor heater supplies heat for the purpose of maintaining the upper section at a constant temperature.   
     
     
         5 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a sample chamber resistor heater located at the sample chamber, wherein the sample chamber resistor heater supplies heat to the sample chamber for the purpose of maintaining a control equation for use in determining the heat output of the sample. 
     
     
         6 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the sample thermoelectric coolers surround the sides of the sample chamber, wherein the sample plate surrounds the sample thermoelectric coolers that surround the sides of the sample chamber, and wherein the reference thermoelectric coolers surround the portion of the sample plate that surrounds the sample thermoelectric coolers that surround the sides of the sample chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising a reference plate located adjacent to the reference thermoelectric coolers, wherein the reference thermoelectric coolers are located between the reference plate and the sample plate. 
     
     
         8 . A calorimeter for use in measuring a sample, comprising:
 a sample chamber for housing the sample therein, wherein the calorimeter does not have a separate reference chamber;   a sample thermoelectric cooler, wherein heat from the sample chamber is transferred to the sample thermoelectric cooler;   a reference thermoelectric cooler for use in detecting thermal noise;   wherein outputs from the sample thermoelectric cooler and the reference thermoelectric cooler are used in a control equation to determine the heat output of the sample.   
     
     
         9 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 8 , further comprising a sample plate that at least partially defines an upper section, wherein heat from the sample chamber is transferred through the sample thermoelectric cooler to the sample plate. 
     
     
         10 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a sample chamber resister heater that supplies heat to the sample chamber;   an upper section resistor heater that supplies heat to the upper section, wherein heat output by the sample chamber resister heater and the upper section resistor heater is controlled in order to maintain the control equation to determine the heat output of the sample.   
     
     
         11 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 10 , wherein the upper section resistor heater functions to maintain the upper section at a constant temperature, wherein heat from the sample chamber is transferred through the sample thermoelectric cooler to the sample plate and into the portion of the sample plate that at least partially defines the upper section. 
     
     
         12 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising a plug that at least partially defines the upper section and at least partially defines the sample chamber, wherein the plug is capable of being removed in order to allow access into the sample chamber for the removal or insertion of the sample from or into the sample chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of the sample thermoelectric coolers are present, and wherein a plurality of the reference thermoelectric coolers are present, and further comprising:
 a bottom plate adjacent to the bottom of the sample chamber, wherein at least one of the sample thermoelectric coolers is adjacent to the bottom of the sample chamber and the bottom plate, wherein the bottom plate is located between one of the reference thermoelectric coolers and one of the sample thermoelectric coolers that is adjacent to the bottom of the sample chamber and the bottom plate; and   a plug adjacent to the top of the sample chamber, wherein the plug has a center plate, wherein at least one of the sample thermoelectric coolers is adjacent to the top of the sample chamber and the center plate, wherein the center plate is located between one of the reference thermoelectric coolers and one of the sample thermoelectric coolers that is adjacent to the top of the sample chamber and the center plate.   
     
     
         14 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein a plurality of the sample thermoelectric coolers are present, and wherein a plurality of the reference thermoelectric coolers are present, wherein the sample thermoelectric coolers surround the sides of the sample chamber, and wherein the reference thermoelectric coolers surround the sample thermoelectric coolers. 
     
     
         15 . A calorimeter for use in measuring a sample, comprising:
 a sample chamber for housing the sample therein;   a sample chamber heater for heating the sample chamber;   a sample thermoelectric cooler, wherein heat from the sample chamber is transferred to the sample thermoelectric cooler;   a sample plate, wherein heat from the sample thermoelectric cooler is transferred to the sample plate, wherein the sample plate at least partially defines an upper section;   a reference thermoelectric cooler;   an upper section heater for heating the upper section;   wherein the sample thermoelectric cooler and the sample plate define a heat flow path in which heat from the sample chamber is transferred to the upper section through the heat flow path;   wherein outputs from the sample thermoelectric cooler and the reference thermoelectric cooler are used in a control equation to determine the heat output of the sample.   
     
     
         16 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the upper section heater is used to maintain the upper section at a constant temperature, and wherein the amount of heat generated by the sample chamber heater is varied based upon the control equation for use in determining the heat output of the sample. 
     
     
         17 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the sample thermoelectric cooler directly faces the sample chamber and is attached to a side of the sample plate, wherein the reference thermoelectric cooler is attached to a side of the sample plate that is opposite to the side of the sample plate to which the sample thermoelectric cooler is attached. 
     
     
         18 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein a plurality of the sample thermoelectric coolers are present, and wherein a plurality of the reference thermoelectric coolers are present, and further comprising:
 a bottom plate that partially defines the sample chamber and is at the bottom of the sample chamber, wherein at least one of the sample thermoelectric coolers is attached to a side of the bottom plate, wherein at least one of the reference thermoelectric coolers is attached to the side of the bottom plate that is opposite to the side to which the sample thermoelectric cooler is attached; and   a plug that partially defines the sample chamber and is at the top of the sample chamber, wherein the plug has a center plate, wherein at least one of the sample thermoelectric coolers is attached to a side of the center plate, wherein at least one of the reference thermoelectric coolers is attached to a side of the center plate that is opposite to the side to which the sample thermoelectric cooler is attached;   wherein the bottom plate and the center plate are in thermal communication with the sample plate and define a portion of the heat flow path.   
     
     
         19 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 15 , further comprising a reference plate attached to the reference thermoelectric cooler, wherein the reference thermoelectric cooler is attached to the sample plate such that the reference thermoelectric cooler is located between the sample plate and the reference thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         20 . The calorimeter as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the reference thermoelectric cooler produces an output that is used in the control equation to reduce thermal noise in the measurement of the heat output of the sample such that a reference chamber separate from the sample chamber is not present in the calorimeter.